Patents by Inventor Chad Swier

Chad Swier has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11136801
    Abstract: An inverted constant force window balance system includes a carrier assembly and a mounting bracket. The carrier assembly includes a housing, a coil spring disposed within the housing, and a shoe assembly coupled to the housing. The shoe assembly is configured to receive a pivot bar from a window sash and extend at least one brake upon rotation of the pivot bar. The mounting bracket is releasably coupled to the housing opposite the shoe assembly and is coupled to the free end of the coil spring. At least a portion of the mounting bracket is configured to slideably move in relation to the free end of the coil spring between at least two positions. When at least a portion of the mounting bracket moves between the at least two positions, the mounting bracket disengages from the housing and releases the mounting bracket from the carrier assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Amesbury Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilbur J. Kellum, Chad Swier, Travis Steen, Tyler Welbig
  • Publication number: 20210164278
    Abstract: A window balance may include a shoe body with an elongate portion and an enlarged portion. The elongate portion may include at least one carrier section for supporting a coil spring and an enlarged portion may include a locking element and a cam in communication with the locking element. The width of the enlarged portion may be greater than the width of the elongate portion. The spring may rest in the carrier section and may be secured to a window jamb with a fastener or a mounting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Travis Steen, Chad Swier, Dan Raap, Gary Newman, Bruce Hagemeyer
  • Publication number: 20200157863
    Abstract: An inverted constant force window balance system includes a carrier assembly and a mounting bracket. The carrier assembly includes a housing, a coil spring disposed within the housing, and a shoe assembly coupled to the housing. The shoe assembly is configured to receive a pivot bar from a window sash and extend at least one brake upon rotation of the pivot bar. The mounting bracket is releasably coupled to the housing opposite the shoe assembly and is coupled to the free end of the coil spring. At least a portion of the mounting bracket is configured to slideably move in relation to the free end of the coil spring between at least two positions. When at least a portion of the mounting bracket moves between the at least two positions, the mounting bracket disengages from the housing and releases the mounting bracket from the carrier assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Wilbur J. Kellum, Chad Swier, Travis Steen, Tyler Welbig
  • Patent number: 10563440
    Abstract: An inverted constant force window balance system includes a carrier assembly and a mounting bracket. The carrier assembly includes a housing, a coil spring disposed within the housing, and a shoe assembly coupled to the housing. The shoe assembly is configured to receive a pivot bar from a window sash and extend at least one brake upon rotation of the pivot bar. The mounting bracket is releasably coupled to the housing opposite the shoe assembly and is coupled to the free end of the coil spring. At least a portion of the mounting bracket is configured to slideably move in relation to the free end of the coil spring between at least two positions. When at least a portion of the mounting bracket moves between the at least two positions, the mounting bracket disengages from the housing and releases the mounting bracket from the carrier assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: AMESBURY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Wilbur J. Kellum, Chad Swier, Travis Steen, Tyler Welbig
  • Publication number: 20180291660
    Abstract: An inverted constant force window balance system includes a carrier assembly and a mounting bracket. The carrier assembly includes a housing, a coil spring disposed within the housing, and a shoe assembly coupled to the housing. The shoe assembly is configured to receive a pivot bar from a window sash and extend at least one brake upon rotation of the pivot bar. The mounting bracket is releasably coupled to the housing opposite the shoe assembly and is coupled to the free end of the coil spring. At least a portion of the mounting bracket is configured to slideably move in relation to the free end of the coil spring between at least two positions. When at least a portion of the mounting bracket moves between the at least two positions, the mounting bracket disengages from the housing and releases the mounting bracket from the carrier assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Wilbur J. Kellum, Chad Swier, Travis Steen, Tyler Welbig
  • Publication number: 20170089109
    Abstract: A window balance may include a shoe body with an elongate portion and an enlarged portion. The elongate portion may include at least one carrier section for supporting a coil spring and an enlarged portion may include a locking element and a cam in communication with the locking element. The width of the enlarged portion may be greater than the width of the elongate portion. The spring may rest in the carrier section and may be secured to a window jamb with a fastener or a mounting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Travis Steen, Chad Swier, Dan Raap, Gary Newman, Bruce Hagemeyer
  • Publication number: 20150361701
    Abstract: A window balance may include a shoe body with an elongate portion and an enlarged portion. The elongate portion may include at least one carrier section for supporting a coil spring and an enlarged portion may include a locking element and a cam in communication with the locking element. The width of the enlarged portion may be greater than the width of the elongate portion. The spring may rest in the carrier section and may be secured to a window jamb with a fastener or a mounting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: AMESBURY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Travis Steen, Chad Swier, Dan Raap, Gary Newman, Bruce Hagemeyer
  • Patent number: 9133656
    Abstract: A window balance may include a shoe body with an elongate portion and an enlarged portion. The elongate portion may include at least one carrier section for supporting a coil spring and an enlarged portion may include a locking element and a cam in communication with the locking element. The width of the enlarged portion may be greater than the width of the elongate portion. The spring may rest in the carrier section and may be secured to a window jamb with a fastener or a mounting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: AMESBURY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Travis Steen, Chad Swier, Dan Raap, Gary R. Newman, Bruce Hagemeyer
  • Publication number: 20140208655
    Abstract: A sash cam for a window sash having a base adapted to be secured to a window sash, a cam positionable in a stored position and an engaged position, and a pivot for joining the cam and the base. The pivot is adapted to hold the cam in at least one of the stored position and the engaged position. When in the stored position, a depth of the cam is at least one of less than and equal to a depth of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Preston Stoakes, Chad Swier, Travis Steen, Dan Raap, Gary Newman
  • Publication number: 20120272476
    Abstract: A sash cam includes a body adapted to be secured to a window sash. The body has an angled interface surface adapted to contact a top guide of a window balance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Chad Swier, Gene A. Van Voorst, Jake Buell
  • Patent number: 8296903
    Abstract: A system and method for supporting and operating a heavy window sash includes a spring assembly, a balance guide connected to the spring assembly, and a sash clip adapted to mate with the balance guide, wherein the sash clip and balance guide have mating guide surfaces and retention elements so that the sash clip is received in a fixed position relative to the balance guide when installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Amesbury Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Steen, Chad Swier
  • Publication number: 20110239402
    Abstract: A window balance may include a shoe body with an elongate portion and an enlarged portion. The elongate portion may include at least one carrier section for supporting a coil spring and an enlarged portion may include a locking element and a cam in communication with the locking element. The width of the enlarged portion may be greater than the width of the elongate portion. The spring may rest in the carrier section and may be secured to a window jamb with a fastener or a mounting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Travis Steen, Chad Swier, Dan Raap, Gary R. Newman, Bruce Hagemeyer
  • Patent number: 7513540
    Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for an active/inactive door system wherein an inactive door lock prevents the locking of an active door lock unless the inactive door lock is first engaged in a locking position. The active door lock includes a dead bolt and a lever for extensible locking engagement with a strike plate on the inactive door. The inactive door lock includes an upper and lower shoot bolt lock, each shoot bolt include a spring lever. Each spring lever is selectably biased against a back side of the strike plate in a first or second detent. The first detent is positioned on the strike plate such that when the corresponding spring lever is biased against in the first detent against a back side of the strike plate the corresponding dead bolt or latch bolt cannot be extended into engagement with the strike plate in a locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignees: Pella Corporation, Amesbury Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Hagemeyer, Fredrick L. Hrdlicka, Gary E. Tagtow, Chad Swier, Daniel L. Raap
  • Publication number: 20060150516
    Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for an active/inactive door system wherein an inactive door lock prevents the locking of an active door lock unless the inactive door lock is first engaged in a locking position. The active door lock includes a dead bolt and a lever for extensible locking engagement with a strike plate on the inactive door. The inactive door lock includes an upper and lower shoot bolt lock, each shoot bolt include a spring lever. Each spring lever is selectably biased against a back side of the strike plate in a first or second detent. The first detent is positioned on the strike plate such that when the corresponding spring lever is biased against in the first detent against a back side of the strike plate the corresponding dead bolt or latch bolt cannot be extended into engagement with the strike plate in a locking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce Hagemeyer, Gary Tagtow, Fredrick Hrdlicka, Chad Swier, Daniel Raap